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Wildfires

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In addition to creating an evacuation plan, making a safety zone around your business or residence can help protect people and property. Within a 30-foot zone of buildings, remove combustible material and reduce the volume of vegetation to a minimum. In doing so, stay clear of overhead lines (maintain at least 10-feet clearance) and use 29 CFR 1910.269 qualified line-clearance tree trimmers. Clear branches and shrubs that are within 15 feet of chimneys or stovepipes and remove vines from the walls of buildings. Frequently mowing grass and replacing vegetation with less flammable species can provide better protection against spreading wildfires. In addition to the 30-foot safety zone, an additional secondary 70-foot safety zone is recommended – increasing the distance between a building and vegetation will increase the level of protection. For more information, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection offers a useful guide for creating safety zones, and the Ready.gov - Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) website has more information as well.

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